La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Remember our 6-month-long registration with the census bureau and our lack of success following up with the change of address for the national identity cards? Now that I have correct information about how to do that last task, I’ve made some attempts. The guard at the office told me getting an appointment is easier with a “clave,” a special key — in addition to our official 9-digit national identity number, and a second 9-digit number on our national identity card.
First I had to register for a clave for San Geraldo. I had created mine several months ago. When I tried, however, I was reminded that I had to wait for confirmation from the “clave” office that it was done. I think it took me a couple of weeks last time. So, after applying, I thought I’d try to get appointments without the claves, beginning with SG. I entered his info and the two 9-digit numbers and requested an appointment. I waited a moment or so and I received a message that none were available and I should try again. Try again when? In an hour? In a week? Next year?
So, then I thought I’d check and see when the next appointment was available for me if I used my clave. I asked for an appointment and the message popped up on the screen: No appointments available. Try again later. I will try again this afternoon. Maybe that’s later. I’m sure I’ll be wrong.
The problem now, I think, is that it’s getting into summer. We moved to Seville in July of 2011. We had to get electricity and water for our apartment which was made especially difficult because everyone was at the beach. We were told by the electric company that it could take a week or perhaps a couple of months. It all depended on if anyone was working. Are you tired of this yet?
I haven’t yet decided what I’ll do today. I’d like to visit the archaeology museum but it’s supposed to be over 42C/107F and I don’t know if I feel like strolling the city in the heat. I could just stay home and finish off the brownies. Do you have any idea what SG’s brownies taste like after being frozen. Fudge! And I love fudge.
I once hitchhiked 70 miles (112km) to the Skylon Tower in Niagara Falls, the Canadian side, just for fudge. I was with two stoned friends; it’s possible I was stoned, too. We then had to hitchhike back. In the dark. It didn’t dawn on any of us that there was probably someplace closer to home with fudge. Maybe it wouldn’t have been the same quality, but in my friends’ (and possibly even my) stoned condition, I don’t think we would have cared.
SG just left for some things at the supermarket, including Lola Falana (aka Irma la Duce, aka Toulouse Lautrec, aka Ines Rosales). He did try to correct himself. He said, “Ines Martinez?”
¿Recuerdan nuestro registro de seis meses en la oficina del censo y nuestra incapacidad para dar seguimiento al cambio de domicilio para las cédulas de identidad? Ahora que tengo la información correcta sobre cómo hacer esto último, lo he intentado. El guardia de la oficina me dijo que conseguir una cita es más fácil con una “clave”, una clave especial, además de nuestro número oficial de identidad nacional de nueve dígitos y un segundo número de nueve dígitos en nuestra cédula.
Primero tenía que registrarme para la clave de San Geraldo. Había creado la mía hacía varios meses. Sin embargo, al intentarlo, me recordaron que debía esperar la confirmación de la oficina de la “clave”. Creo que la última vez me llevó un par de semanas. Así que, después de solicitarla, pensé en intentar conseguir citas sin las claves, empezando por SG. Ingresé sus datos y los dos números de nueve dígitos y solicité una cita. Esperé un momento y recibí un mensaje diciendo que no había ninguna disponible y que debía volver a intentarlo. ¿Cuándo? ¿En una hora? ¿En una semana? ¿El año que viene?
Entonces pensé en comprobar cuándo tendría la próxima cita si usaba mi clave. Pedí cita y apareció el mensaje en la pantalla: No hay citas disponibles. Inténtalo más tarde. Lo intentaré esta tarde. Quizás sea más tarde. Seguro que me equivoco.
El problema ahora, creo, es que ya es verano. Nos mudamos a Sevilla en julio de 2011. Tuvimos que conseguir luz y agua para nuestro apartamento, lo cual fue especialmente difícil porque todos estaban en la playa. La compañía eléctrica nos dijo que podría tardar una semana o quizás un par de meses. Todo dependía de si alguien trabajaba. ¿Ya te has cansado de esto?
Todavía no he decidido qué haré hoy. Me gustaría visitar el museo de arqueología, pero se supone que hará más de 42°C/107°F y no sé si me apetece pasear por la ciudad con este calor. Podría quedarme en casa y terminarme los brownies. ¿Tienes idea de a qué saben los brownies de SG después de congelarlos? ¡A dulce de azúcar! Y me encanta el dulce de azúcar.
Una vez hice autostop 112 kilómetros hasta la Torre Skylon en las Cataratas del Niágara, en el lado canadiense, solo por dulce de azúcar. Estaba con dos amigos que estaban drogados; es posible que yo también estuviera drogado. Luego tuvimos que hacer autostop de vuelta. A oscuras. A ninguno se nos ocurrió que probablemente habría algún lugar más cerca de casa con dulce de azúcar. Quizás no habría sido de la misma calidad, pero con el estado de mis amigos (y posiblemente el mío) drogados, no creo que nos hubiera importado.
SG acaba de salir a comprar algunas cosas en el supermercado, incluyendo a Lola Falana (alias Irma la Duce, alias Toulouse Lautrec, alias Inés Rosales). Intentó corregirse. Dijo: “¿Inés Martínez?”
• Brownie (antes de congelarlo). Con cerezas, porque un brownie no es lo suficientemente dulce.
“I once hitchhiked 70 miles (112km) to the Skylon Tower in Niagara Falls, the Canadian side, just for fudge.”
That is where you are exactly like Carlos!!!
The bureaucracy of the “try again later” makes my head hurt so thanks for the Kitty Porn to make me smile.
Bob:
Although, unlike you, SG does like chocolate, I don’t think he would have hitchhiked 70 miles for it.
Mitchell, you made me laugh out loud with your story about hitchhiking to the Skylon Tower for fudge! I grew up on fudge from the Maple Leaf Fudge store in Niagara on the Lake so I can understand the desire for good Canadian fudge.😆😆😆 When we lived in Nova Scotia I occasionally had fudge sent to us. I hope your census registration problems resolve quickly.
Robin:
Maple Leaf Fudge! My mouth is watering. Census registration is a done deal. We’re now onto the change-of-address nightmare for our national identity cards.
I notice that about the Niagara Peninsula every time I visit that part of Ontario — local fudge is for sale EVERYWHERE. It’s been years since I’ve had fudge. Even a small piece gives me a sugar headache for, like, three days. Alas.
Debra:
Fudge has always been my weakness. SG’s brownies out of the freezer were a great fix. I don’t think I’ve ever had a sugar headache (maybe a lack-of-sugar headache).
Pardon my French, but that system sounds like a royal pain in the ass! I think I was getting stressed just read that. So because of that I’ll just sit and enjoy that picture of moose. At least I think that’s moose? I think that’s my favorite Kitty.
Mistress Borghese:
It doesn’t need to be this difficult. I have no clue why they make it so here in Córdoba province. And, yes, that’s Moose. He’s so lovable.
Oh you have more patience than moi! The bureaucracy of all levels of government is mind-boggling.
Hey Moose!
Jim:
Not so much patience as no choice!
Oh, yes.
My friend lives in Valladolid and he told me that NOTHING happens there during the summer. Nothing. I did not know about the Clave, though… it sounds like it should be… easier??
XOXO
Sixpence Notthewiser:
When we lived in Seville we were surprised when all the neighbors asked, “When are you going to the beach?” because of course we had to be escaping to the beach soon. So many business were completely closed in August. Some had signs saying when they’d be back, and many were not back when they said, while others just locked the doors and left. This entire process should and can be so much easier. Fuengirola was appalling yet better than this but the people were mostly painfully unpleasant. At least here the people are pleasant.
When you start shrugging your shoulders, and saying “mañana” you will be truly Spanish. Stay home with the AC and brownies, or there may be desiccated remains at the archaeology museum.
David:
I think there already are desiccated remains. No one would even notice me.
Okay. This all sounds like using a Magic Eight Ball. “Reply hazy. Try again later.”
Remember those?
Oh, for the good old days when hitchhiking seventy miles with two friends to satisfy a munchies craving was just the thing to do sometimes! Can you even begin to imagine any part of that now?
Feliz Viernes!
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
Yes! It is the Magic Eight Ball. Hitchhiking! We always knew if a VW Beetle or VW camper van approached, we were saved.
If it’s any consolation, I get the “try again” occasionally here. That usually means it doesn’t like one of the blockers/filters I’ve installed, or that I’ve got the VPN on. It’s massively annoying, esp. when it’s a site I know works just fine and that I’ve got a password for. Anywho… is that sculpture one of the prigioneri?
Oooops! I just now realized that your “try again” is not the same as the one I described above. I get so easily confused here in my dotage… 🤪🤪🤪
wickedhamster:
LOL! I’m glad you followed up. I wondered where you had gone! The sculpture was the first done by my mother when she was in her 70s.
Lola Falana!! Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
(Damn, sorry about your crazy process to get registered. Nuts!)
Judy C:
I wonder what name Ines will have next.
Stoned? Hmm, sounds like you had the munchies!
Kirk:
Maybe just a little.
Lola Falana! LOL! You guys crack me up. I also loved “it’s possible I was stoned, too.” But of course you didn’t inhale, right?
Steve:
I never inhaled … when it was baked into brownies. SG also thinks Barry Manilow sings, “Her name was Lola, Lola Falana…”
Have I told you lately how much I love you guys? Well, I do! Just a wandering thought.
Deedles:
Aw, thanks, Deedles. We’re cute, huh?
Here in NJ fudge is why you go to the shore. Well, maybe just me. Boud.
Boud:
My two times at the Jersey Shore, I had fudge. It’s not just you.
The very fact that the whole of inland Spain basically shuts up shop and goes to the coast makes me laugh.
“Mañana is good enough for me!”
Indeed.
Jx
Jon:
August is dead here. We were confused in Seville that first year when everyone kept asking when we were going to the beach and were shocked when we said we weren’t going to the beach.
When stoned, we were more the type to make a (slow motion) trip to the store to get a box of brownies to bake at home. Or actually, I preferred to go through a bag (or two) of chips. I now hear cherries calling me from my kitchen…
Kelly:
I remember inhaling potato chips, which I normally don’t much like. But, going to the store for brownie mix? That’s ambitious.